Wang Qingchen heard this and thought the old woman was indeed sharp, but he had anticipated such a situation beforehand. “Grandma, it’s not that I won’t help Elder Uncle connect this matter, but Boss Xue explicitly forbade it. I can’t exactly offend Boss Xue, can I?”

“What’s the big deal about just connecting people?” the old woman asked.

“Boss Xue already figured something like this would happen. If everyone tried to profit by nurturing flowers, there wouldn't be enough dying flowers to go around, besides, he doesn't have the time to deal with so many people. That’s why he told me not to reveal anything about him, or to act as a go-between for anyone,” Wang Qingchen explained.

“Forget it, since Boss Xue said no, don't make things difficult for Qingchen,” the Old Man said, then turned to Wang Youfu. “Second son, your elder brother won't get this lucky break, but your branch of the family will surely earn a lot of money relying on this now. Why don’t you take out some money now to help your elder brother out?”

Wang Youfu remained silent, offering no reply.

Wang Youliang’s eyes darted around, and a plan formed in his mind. “Father, I see Second Brother is reluctant to part with money to support me, but what can I do when I am his own flesh and blood brother? I don't want to put him in a difficult spot either. How about this?” Saying this, Wang Youliang turned to Wang Youfu. “Didn't you buy a shop in town? Why don’t you lend it to me to run a business? That way you won’t have to spend any money, and you’ll still be helping me out.” Wang Youliang then adopted an expression that suggested he was extremely considerate and thoughtful of Wang Youfu’s interests.

Wang Qingchen stared for a good while after hearing this. If not for the situation they were in, he would have applauded. Wang Youliang’s mind worked so fast, but why couldn't he apply it to something useful?

In the room, Yang Shi grew extremely anxious upon hearing Wang Youliang’s proposal. She knew the temperament of the Eldest Branch all too well; if they borrowed the shop, nothing would be left.

When the Old Man heard Wang Youliang’s suggestion, he thought it was truly a win-win solution and nodded repeatedly. “The Eldest Son’s idea is quite good.”

Wang Youfu inwardly sneered. If the shop was lent to the Eldest Brother, don't even think about getting it back; it would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone forever. He mocked, “Elder Brother, our Second and Third Branches helped you set up a shop before, but before long, you lost money on it. Surely you haven't forgotten that incident?”

“Hehe, wasn’t that because I lacked experience? If I run a shop now, I’m sure to succeed,” Wang Youliang replied with a wide smile.

“Then I’m truly sorry, Elder Brother, but I’ve already leased that shop out,” Wang Youfu stated.

“That’s no issue, we can just break the lease!” Wang Youliang said dismissively.

“Elder Brother, if I break this lease, I have to compensate the other party thirty taels of silver. Are you going to cover these thirty taels?” Wang Youfu pressed without politeness.

Wang Youliang, shamelessly, retorted, “Second Brother, your family is so flush with cash now, why would I need to cover a mere thirty taels?”

“Thirty taels in compensation?” the Old Man exclaimed. “Then don’t break it. We’d be giving away that much silver for nothing.”

“Father, I might earn thirty taels doing business!” Wang Youliang didn't give up.

“No, that’s thirty taels. If you happen not to make any money, won’t those thirty taels have been completely wasted? Let’s wait until the tenant’s lease is up,” the Old Man said, clearly not trusting Wang Youliang. He then turned to Wang Youfu. “Second son, when your shop’s lease is up, lend it to the Eldest Brother then!”

Wang Qingchen was utterly speechless hearing the Old Man and Wang Youfu. Had the father and son forgotten something? That shop belonged to their Second Branch; neither of them had the right to decide what happened to it.

“Let’s wait until the lease is up,” Wang Youfu replied vaguely, thinking to himself that he hadn't promised anything at all.

Since the Old Man had decreed they wait until the lease expired, Wang Youliang and Tian Shi couldn't press further. The couple secretly resolved to go to town the next day to inquire how long the lease on the Second Branch’s shop was.

Wang Youliang and Tian Shi were dismissed, but the Old Woman clearly wasn't planning on letting the Second Branch off so easily.

“Second son, you’re rich now, but your mother is still starving and cold. Have you forgotten your own mother now that you have money?” The Old Woman began to weep to Wang Youfu, switching from hard tactics to soft ones.

“Mother, it’s just that your daughter-in-law’s health hasn't fully recovered yet. Once she’s better, I’ll have her buy you some fine cloth to make you a new set of clothes,” Wang Youfu replied.

“Just one set?” the Old Woman grumbled in dissatisfaction.

“Enough, how much more do you want your son to spend? It hasn’t been easy for the Second Branch’s family either. Let’s all go back!” The Old Man said, leading the way out.

The Old Woman snorted in annoyance but could only follow. Only after everyone from the Old Residence had left did Wang Youfu and Wang Qingchen have time to eat something, as they had been busy all this time and were long hungry.

After eating, Wang Youfu took the pastries and silver he bought in town and went out to repay debts: nine hundred sixty wen for the small piglet, eighteen taels to Zhang Shi, five taels of silver to Aunt Gui, and seven taels of silver to Li Qiang’s family. He gave a small pastry to each household as well, since they had shown kindness by lending money.

Not long after, Zhang Shi came to visit Yang Shi. She was quite shocked that the Second Branch had managed to repay the money so quickly, but since she couldn't very well ask Wang Youfu, she came to ask Yang Shi instead.

Yang Shi recounted the story of how Wang Qingchen had saved the flowers. After hearing Yang Shi’s explanation, Zhang Shi sighed enviously, “Second sister-in-law, you are truly blessed. Your son is accomplished even though he is so young, and Second Brother’s temperament means he won’t let you suffer any grievances. Alas, I’m not so lucky. I worry that one day the old man might be tricked by the folks back at the Old Residence again.”

“That won’t happen. Isn’t your Third Uncle doing much better now? I think he won’t speak much even if the Old Residence says anything now,” Yang Shi comforted her.

“Sigh, I certainly hope so!” Zhang Shi sighed.

Within a few days, everyone in the village knew that Wang Qingchen had luckily nurtured an orchid and consequently earned a large sum of money. The way the villagers looked at Wang Qingchen immediately changed. Many people subtly tried to inquire about Boss Xue’s background, privately thinking that if Wang Qingchen, a mere child, could save something, they, with years of farming experience, could certainly do the same and earn a large sum. Who would have guessed that Wang Qingchen had a spatial realm on his side? When questioned, Wang Qingchen used the same excuse he gave the Old Residence to brush them off.

Li Yuntai had been thoroughly entertained watching Wang Qingchen’s recent drama unfold, which made Wang Qingchen quite unhappy. “You’re still laughing? I’m afraid to even come near your place these days. I run into someone asking about Boss Xue on the road every other step.”

Hearing Wang Qingchen say this, Li Yuntai couldn’t help but laugh even harder. “Who told you to suddenly earn so much money? There are plenty of envious people.”

Wang Qingchen secretly thought, it was a good thing they only knew Wang Youfu bought a shop in town. If they knew he had also bought fifteen mu of paddy fields, the situation would have been far worse—they might have trampled their doorstep down. Earning too much money made people jealous, which wasn't ideal, but thankfully, no one would suspect the spatial realm.

Li Yuntai laughed for a while longer. “By the way, you can finally go to school now, can’t you?”

“Yes, I can definitely go to school this time. I just wonder if the academy accepts new students midway through the term,” Wang Qingchen replied.

“That should be fine. Our academy just accepted a new student a few days ago,” Li Yuntai mentioned.

“Then how much is your annual tuition, the shuxiu?” Wang Qingchen asked.

“Five taels of silver per year. Of course, you have to buy your own books, ink, paper, and brushes,” Li Yuntai answered.

Wang Qingchen now had a number in mind and decided to discuss going to school with Wang Youfu as soon as he got home.

After returning from Li Yuntai’s house, Wang Qingchen first went to see Yang Shi. Her complexion had improved over the last few days, possibly because knowing the family now had money meant she didn't constantly have to worry about the thirty taels burdening the household.

As the two were talking, Wang Youfu returned.

When Yang Shi saw the deeds and property documents Wang Youfu pulled from his robes, she was so astonished she couldn't speak. She had only known they bought a shop in town; she never expected Wang Youfu had secretly bought fifteen mu of paddy fields as well. Yang Shi immediately pinched herself. When she realized she wasn't dreaming, she was so overjoyed that tears streamed down her face.

“Husband, with this land and the shop, our future days will be worry-free,” Yang Shi said, wiping away tears with a smile.

“Indeed, our hard days are finally seeing an end,” Wang Youfu sighed in agreement.

“Mother, why are you crying? Our good days are ahead!” Wang Qingchen laughed.

“Mother is just happy. Husband, do we have enough money now to find a wife for Qinghua?” Yang Shi suddenly asked.

“We have enough money now. Once your health fully recovers, we’ll hire a matchmaker to look around, so we can arrange Qinghua’s marriage sooner,” Wang Youfu planned.

“Yes, once I’m better, I’ll go hire a matchmaker. Qinghua is filial; he usually doesn't say much, but we can’t let him be wronged,” Yang Shi agreed.

After the couple settled this, Wang Qingchen brought up his request to go to school. Wang Youfu readily agreed to Wang Qingchen’s request, as he had intended to send him to school from the beginning.

Hearing this, Yang Shi wondered if they should also send the elder son, Qinghua, to school. If they only sent the second son, it might cause problems if the elder son developed any resentment. Yang Shi shared her thoughts with Wang Youfu, who paused for a moment before deciding to wait and ask Wang Qinghua himself when he returned.

When Wang Qinghua came back from the fields, Wang Youfu and Yang Shi asked for his thoughts. However, Wang Qinghua shook his head. “I’m already this old; it’s too late to start studying. I’d just be wasting so much money. I don’t want to go to school; let Second Brother go.”

Hearing this, Yang Shi wiped her tears. “Alas, it’s all because we delayed you.”

“Mother, my mind isn't that quick-witted. Maybe I wouldn't do well even if I studied. There’s nothing to regret,” Wang Qinghua comforted Yang Shi.

Wang Youfu and Yang Shi felt even worse hearing this. Although they knew it was late for their elder son to start studying, and they would have felt pained spending the money on him, now that their elder son was actively choosing not to go and considering the family so much, it was hard for the couple not to feel guilty.

Wang Qingchen, watching from the side, also felt regret for Wang Qinghua. Such a child with such good character wouldn't get to study. He then said, “How about this: I will go to the academy to study, and then every day, I will teach Big Brother what I learned when I come back. Learning more characters and things is always beneficial.”

Wang Qinghua shook his head upon hearing this. “That won’t work. That would waste too much of your time; you could learn so much more in that time.”

Wang Qingchen smiled. “Big Brother, teaching you doesn't cost me anything; isn't it like I'm studying it over again myself?”

Wang Qinghua considered this and found some logic in it, so he no longer objected. After all, he had deeply desired to study once, but the family simply couldn't afford the expense.

The entire family reached a consensus on Wang Qingchen attending school in town.